Dears,
Please your opinion. Two months ago we received a purchase order to prefabricate piping spools for a Compression Station. At the begining our client confirmed that the criteria to evaluate all welds was B31.3 (where the heigh of external reinforcement is un function of the thickness of the groove).
After three weeks of production and 160 welded joints, the client changed the criteria to B31.8 (API 1104) where the max external reinforcement is 1/16" for all welded joints.
How we can save the production? Should we to flush or grind all reinforcements to get the size of 1/16" required for 1104?
To the other hand, the RT inspection regarding to the max porosity size, while B31.3 permits 1/4" T, the criteria of 1104 is 1/8" max. We need to reevaluate the films where the porosity was accepted by B31.3
Please your suggestions.
Thanks
If you have a contractual agreement to B31.3 and you have proof they changed the Code of construction 'AFTER THE FACT', I would diplomatically tell them to F themselves.
Or, tell them that you would be more than happy to bring the prior welds into compliance with B31.8 but the THEY are going to pay for it.
Also, that you will need to adjust your price for fabrication moving forward.
Watch them change their minds.
This happens ALL OF THE TIME in this industry. Somebody trying to get something for nothing. Especially in hungry environments when fabricators are more likely to kiss their 'A' just to keep the shop fed.
The customer IS NOT always right.
Your primary question seems to be how to save the 160 welds that have already been completed. I assume the issue of the additional cost will be handled and is not what you want help with.
If that is the case, then the welds would need to be visually inspected to ASME B31.8 acceptance criteria and all of the RT film would need to be read to ASME B31.8 criteria as well and new reader sheets issued. B31.3 does not require 100% inspection for normal fluid service, so there may be some additional welds to inspect if you only looked at 5% or a sample. Any deviations from the B31.8 acceptance criteria would need to be corrected (such as reinforcement height) unless the customer is willing to accept as-is. And keep good track of the additional re-inspection and rework time and costs for the billing to the customer and explaining any resulting schedule delay.
This when you wish you had a written contract.
What was originally agreed to when the job was accepted? Was there a purchase order? Were there drawings? Was there a project specification?
The customer cannot unilaterially change the requirements during the course of the project without agreement from the contractor. That agreement usually involves additional money to cover the cost of the changes.
Verbal contracts will hold, but they can be difficult to enforce during litigation.
Al
Forum
